- Tamiya Models Magazine International : Issue 125 - March 06 (Page 45)

"... If I were going to build a standard or Tropen Ausf.E with Zusatzpanzerung and superstructure Vorpanzer, this is the kit I'd want to base it on ..."

<full review here>
- Frank De Sisto

DR6301: Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. E Vorpanzer

1/35 injection plastic kit with multimedia accessories and decals

During WWII, the Panzer IV was progressively up-armoured to reflect the increasing effectiveness of anti-tank weapons. One of the earlier improvements was to fit ‘vorpanzer’ or spaced armour to a limited number of early production Panzer IV, such as the Ausf D and E. These vehicles were issued to front line troops and used to assess the effectiveness of the concept. With spaced armour there is a gap between the outer armour plate and the tank’s main armour. With spaced armour, many shells types, such as APC, will detonate when they hit the outer armour and thus cause far less damage when they hit the inner armour. On the Panzer III and IV, spaced armour was more effective than having the supplementary (outer) armour plate fixed directly on top of the main armour plate.

Overview
The Panzer IV Ausf E ‘Vorpanzer’ is Dragon’s second newly tooled Panzer IV kit and like the earlier Panzer IV Ausf E ‘3 in 1’ (kit 6264) is a highly sophisticated kit with in excess of 1,000 parts and considerable attention to detail. Apart from a new sprue containing the supplementary vorpanzer, this kit contains an improved lower hull and turret, as well as several smaller additions. These improvements make it ideal for building either the Vorpanzer or a standard later production Panzer IV Ausf E with additional armour on the lower hull.

Photo-etch and pre-formed metal are used for much of the fine detail. In many cases where PE parts are included, a simpler plastic only option is available. If all the PE and other options, such as the turret interior detail, are used this kit will be rewarding for both experienced modellers and those wishing a large project; others may use the injection plastic options and leave out interior detail to save time. This flexibility, and the fact the underlying kit fits together smoothly, ensures that this model has broad appeal and is suitable for intermediate modellers.

The gatefold instructions have 18 steps of line drawings that are well laid out and explicitly identify where you have an option. Overall I felt this instruction sheet was slightly clearer than that in kit 6264, due to small improvements, such as adding an extra diagram to show how one sub-step of the turret interior is constructed.

New Spaced Armour
One new sprue contains the ‘vorpanzer’ armour. This includes additional plates that were fitted to the gun’s mantlet, front of the turret and upper glacis. Also included are new parts for the distinctive driver’s visor and hull MG mounting associated with the ‘vorpanzer’ armour.

Hull with Workable Suspension
This kit has one lower hull, which has the additional armour plates on the sides. This hull has several changes from the earlier Panzer IV E’s hulls, which improve accuracy and should please modellers. The front of the hull is now a separate piece, with improved detail on the lower glacis. The hull’s bottom plate is now 1mm shorter and the mounting position for the drive sprocket has been raised. The final drive housing underneath the drive sprocket is now slightly better detailed and has separate armoured covers with detail on both sides. This internal detail would particularly appeal to those interested in diorama of a damaged or under service Panzer with the sprocket removed. On the upper glacis the brake inspection and transmission hatches have been repositioned and subtle weld seams added to the upper and lower edges.

Other features of the hull are:

* The rear idler mounts detail feature small welds and the adjusting nuts.

* The rear idlers feature slide molding for the main casting with photo-etch for the outer stiffening ring on the spokes. Alternative all injection plastic rear idlers are also provided.

* The road-wheels have considerable small detail including separate rubber tyres, which allow for painting of the rubber independent of the wheel rims. The 'Continentau' (you can slice of half the “U” is you really wish) logo is on the sidewalls.

* The side fenders have anti-skid pattern on both the upper and lower surfaces. One pair of fenders has holes for the tools in their factory positions and the other has no holes for use with PE clasps etc. The fenders are fairly thin for injection plastic and have the lip (fold) on the outer edge. The front and rear fenders are separate pieces and can be modeled positioned folded up.

* Two sets of on-vehicle tools are provided of which one has the clamps moulded on for easy of assembly (and works with the fenders with the predrilled holes) and the other set has no clamps and is for use with the PE clamps.

* Choice of standard (i.e. intended for use in Europe) engine deck or the "tropen" engine deck with ventilation slots. PE parts are provided to add the grills underneath the slots.

Turret
The turret has also been improved and is an extremely impressive assembly with a partial interior which includes the turret crew seats, turret floor with anti-skid, and gun’s breech with catcher for spent cases and coaxial MG. The triangular plates on the lower front of the turret have been enlarged to improve accuracy, while an alternative turret stowage box with flat side panels is provided (the box with upper lips is still included). Both stowage boxes can be modelled open or closed and have optional PE detail.

Other turret features include toothed turret ring and interior detail for the commander' cupola which includes clear plastic vision blocks. Most hatches and turret ports can be positioned open or closed including the commander hatch, side hatches (with interior detail and clear plastic vision blocks), vision flaps (also with clear plastic parts), pistol port and signal ports.

There is a choice of injection plastic Kwk37 L/24 gun with muzzle rifling or turned metal gun without rifling. Alternative plastic parts give the choice of early (with recessed screws) or late (no screws) style barrels.

Tracks
The pre-cut injection plastic magic tracks depict the early Panzer IV track with links that were 38cm wide with 40cm track pins. They have open guide horns and are "handed" in that separate left and right side tracks are provided. The difference being on which side of the link the head of the track pin faces out. To avoid mix-ups each set has its own plastic bag and is molded in a slightly different shade of gray. The links snap together for quick assembly and a whole run can be assembled in minutes; before you apply glue to the assembled track run. A small injection mark is on each side of the guide horns and if you wish to remove them they can be swiftly scraped off using a hobby knife (in practice you would only need to remove the outer mark as the inner mark is hidden by the guide horn).

Accessories

Other mixed media accessories include:

* Assorted preformed metal for hull detail such as tow cable hooks, two metal cables for front and rear lights.

* Preformed spare wheel mounts made from bent metal tubing, which are often seen in photos (this kit does not include the less common “U” shaped spare wheel rack from kit 6264).

* Three jerry cans with PE for the jerry can rack and the cans’ centre welded join.

* 240mm twisted wire cable with injection plastic eyes for tow cable.

* PE chains for the smoke candle rack and cooling drain cap.

Decals
A small decal sheet by Cartograf is included containing turret numbers for two vehicles, three Balkan crosses and two unique markings including the name “Hansi” in white freehand. The painting guide covers 5 different vehicles, of which three, in keeping with vehicle allocations, are from Ersatz or replacement units. Most vehicles are in dark grey and one in ‘desert’ yellow.

Recommendation

With the addition of the ‘vorpanzer’, this kit has that extra interest, which when combined with the attention to detail, makes it an impressive model of an early war Panzer IV. I was pleased to see that Dragon had improved the lower hull and turret. The choice of plastic or metal parts for many features, selected interior detail, and the inclusion of various accessories all add to the Vorpanzer’s appeal. Highly recommended.

- Neville Lord

"...it sure looks good from what I can see!"

<full review here>
- Vinnie Branigan